If you turn on the television, open up a magazine, or read a newspaper, you know the bad news: Gas prices are at all-time highs, the economy could be in a recession, and companies are cutting back on their help.  Does this mean that it is hopeless for those seeking a job or trying to start a new career? Not at all!

The key to success in a competitive job market is having job skills and hands-on experience that will make your resume stand out from all of the others.  Applicants who are trained for specific positions and who possess skills and experience with modern equipment and technology are tremendous assets for local employers.  These trained workers are still flourishing in Northeast Georgia.

The best place in Northeast Georgia to learn occupational skills is Lanier Technical College.  In fact, last year over 97% of graduates from Lanier Tech’s occupational programs were employed in their fields of study.   This number is astounding considering the current state of the economy.  

Lanier Tech is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and has campuses in Oakwood, Cumming, Winder, Dawsonville, and Commerce.  The College also offers hundreds of classes online. 

Most students enrolled in credit programs at Lanier Tech qualify for the Georgia HOPE Grant.  The HOPE Grant is an initiative of the Georgia legislature that ensures that all Georgia residents have the opportunity to obtain the training needed to succeed in the modern workforce.  The qualifications for the HOPE Grant are much less restrictive than those of the HOPE Scholarship, which most Georgians are more familiar with.

The mission of Lanier Technical College is to provide students with hands-on training. Therefore, you can acquire the skills you need without wasting a lot of time studying subjects that aren’t related to the job that you want.  Most of the certificate programs at Lanier Tech focus on very specific skills and can be completed in six to eight months.  The College also offers up to two-year Associate of Applied Science degrees in a wide variety of occupational fields.

Whether your talents and interests lie in the field of computers, industrial technology, business, healthcare, or public service, Lanier Technical College offers a program of study that can help you succeed, even if the economy is a little slow these days.

Visit the Lanier Technical College website at www.lanier.tec.ga.us for more information.

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